(Sep 29, 2020): Artificial intelligence (AI) is having an impact in biotechnology and nanotechnology in the USA. Several big pharmaceutical companies have partnered with AI startups and other large corporations that work in AI (the likes of Google, Microsoft, etc.).

Use of software with AI algorithms in the healthcare market is a multi-billion dollar business as we speak (in the USA). In short, there is scientific and commercial potential.

Can AI solve many problems in biotechnology or nanotechnology? In my opinion, the answer is nuanced. I can clearly see the value of AI in areas such as diagnostics where diagnostic algorithms can outperform health workers in detecting diseases from medical images. However, this does not require much thinking (it requires better detection!).

The use of AI in other areas is where real brain power is more important is a “gray” area. For example, as far as I know, no AI-designed drugs have ever been considered for approval in the USA.

There are several reasons why this has not happened. For example, level of trust (AI models are as good as the datasets in which they rely), validation of predictions and clinical trials are expensive, complicated legal issues (not clear who owns who owns the copyright based on the current laws, a human creator or a human who pushes a button and let AI do the job?), etc.

Nevertheless, those that are convinced on the bright future of AI applications will tell you that very soon AI-based approaches will lead to “wonder” drugs which are not conceivable to a human medical expert on the basis of the same (large amount) of information.

In a nutshell, time will be the better judge.